Luggage with a collapsible structure

ABSTRACT

Luggage with a folding structure that can take a compact form for storage and an expanded form of the usage volume including an access side and a bottom opposite the access side. The bottom is edged with four lateral sides. At least one of the two lateral sides is associated with at least one stiffening panel configured to turn towards the bottom of the luggage. A third lateral side has a folding structure and is configured to be locked by a lateral lock.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a §371 application from PCT/FR2015/050199 filed Jan.29, 2015, which claims priority from French Patent Application No. 1450947 filed Feb. 7, 2014, each of which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to luggage with a folding structure that variesbetween a folded arrangement with a compact volume for storage and anexpanded arrangement of the usage volume.

The invention is particularly useful in its application to the buildingof luggage with four wheels and a telescopic handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, there is no known luggage system with a folding structurethat can satisfactorily vary the volume of luggage with four wheels anda telescopic handle.

Wheeled luggage with a telescopic handle is generally made up of a floorand lateral frames combined with a polypropylene sheet shaped to form aC.

That design of the floor and the lateral frames makes it possible tomaintain the spacing, rigidity and co-planarity of the four wheels,while allowing effective guidance with the telescopic handle.

Document WO2013/028974 describes folding luggage comprising a lowersurface with a rigid front part and a rigid rear part. Said rigid frontand rear parts are connected so as to move from a configuration that issubstantially co-planar to one that is substantially perpendicular. Alocking mechanism is arranged to lock said rigid front and rear parts insaid substantially co-planar configuration. The folding luggagecomprises an upper surface comprising a front part and a rear part. Saidfront part and said rear part of the upper surface are arranged so as tomove from a substantially co-planar configuration to a substantiallyperpendicular configuration. That folding luggage comprises a rearsurface, a left-hand lateral surface, a right-hand lateral surface and afront surface. The luggage may be in an unfolded configuration while inuse, and in a folded configuration for storage. In said unfoldedconfiguration, said front and rear parts of the bottom surface arelocked in said substantially co-planar configuration and said front andrear parts of the upper surface are positioned in said substantiallyco-planar configuration. In said folded configuration, said front andrear parts of the bottom surface are placed in said substantiallyperpendicular configuration, and said front and rear parts of the uppersurface are positioned in said substantially perpendicularconfiguration.

The luggage locking mechanism described in document WO2013/028974 islocated at the middle of the lower surface, so that the transmission offorces on the sides, that is to say between the two front and rearleft-hand wheels and the two front and rear right-hand wheels areunbalanced.

The locking system presented there is not satisfactory, as it does notallow adequate locking of the front and rear rigid parts in relation toeach other under heavy loads.

The locking system presented there is also not satisfactory forwithstanding a throwing test, because the rigid front and rear parts dono remain co-planar.

Lastly, the locking system is not satisfactory while rolling, becausethe rigid front and rear parts also do not remain co-planar, as a resultof which the transmission of force from top to bottom of the product isimperfect, and rolling is imperfect.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aim of the invention is to propose new luggage with a foldingstructure, the structure of which makes it applicable to wheeled luggageand luggage without wheels.

A second objective of the invention is to propose new luggage with afolding structure, where the structure is lightweight and offers highrolling quality and stability comparable to luggage with non-foldingstructure.

A third aim of the invention is to offer new luggage with a foldingstructure where the selected volume can be maintained, even whilerolling.

The object of the invention is luggage with a folding structure that cantake a compact form for storage and an expanded form of the usagevolume, of the type with an access side and a bottom opposite saidaccess side, wherein said bottom is edged with four lateral sides,characterized in combination by the fact that one lateral side has afolding structure and is suitable for being held rigidly using at leastone lateral holding means.

Because the folding structure is suitable for being held rigidly bylateral holding means, rolling stability and the co-planarity of thewheels are achieved in an application of the invention for buildingwheeled luggage.

According to other alternative characteristics of the invention:

-   -   at least one of the two lateral sides is associated with at        least one stiffening panel.    -   at least one stiffening panel is suitable for turning towards        the bottom of the luggage.    -   the luggage with a folding structure has at least one front        wheel and at least one rear wheel mounted on the lateral side        with a folding structure and suitable for being held rigidly by        at least one lateral holding means.    -   the lateral locking means comprise a rigid means for joining at        least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel mounted on the        lateral side with a folding structure and suitable for being        held rigidly by at least one lateral holding means.    -   the lateral side with a folding structure that is suitable for        being held rigidly by at least one lateral holding means makes        up a floor with two rigid parts joined to each other by a hinge,        wherein each of them bears at least one front wheel and at least        one rear wheel.    -   the lateral side that makes up the floor has two rigid parts and        at least one joining rod that makes it possible to stiffen the        folding floor.    -   each joining rod that stiffens the folding floor joins the wheel        casings to create a rigid link between the two wheels and to        keep them co-planar.    -   at least one joining rod rotates around a fixed point located        close to one of the wheels between two main positions: a first        folded position that does not join the wheels and an unfolded        position that creates the link with another wheel.    -   each joining rod may be mounted inside the folding suitcase.    -   the assembly for the fastening, movement and holding of a        joining rod can be mounted directly inside the suitcase on an        interior wheel casing.    -   at least one stiffening panel suitable for turning towards the        bottom of the luggage can be articulated at the bottom of the        luggage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood thanks to the followingdescription provided as a non-limitative example, by reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a perspective view of luggagewith a folding structure according to the invention in the foldedarrangement with a compact volume for storage.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a perspective view of luggagewith a folding structure according to the invention in the expandedarrangement of the usage volume.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a partial perspective viewillustrating a locking means of luggage with a folding structureaccording to the invention in the folded arrangement with a compactvolume for storage.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a partial perspective viewillustrating a locking means of luggage with a folding structureaccording to the invention in the expanded arrangement of the usagevolume.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

By reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, identical or functionally equivalentelements are given identical reference numbers.

The structure of the luggage with a folding structure according to theinvention described by reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 is particularlyadvantageous for the construction of luggage with four wheels, so as toensure smooth rolling in all the arrangements corresponding to a givenvolume, while retaining the properties of resistance to impacts, the useand the carrying of the wheeled luggage with a non-folding structureaccording to the prior art.

The invention makes it possible to vary the volume of wheeled luggage ina simple and ergonomic manner, with no disassembly or particularmanipulation, to fold the floor for storage and provide a rigid andcontinuous floor for rolling. That volume variation makes it possible toreduce the thickness of the luggage for the purpose of storage when itis not in use.

In usage mode, the folding floor does not collapse under the weight ofthe load, particularly at the folding line: the invention thus makes itpossible to assemble a system with four wheels on the floor and ensureperfect rolling in the four-wheeled mode.

In FIG. 1, luggage with a folding structure according to the inventionis luggage with wheels R and a telescopic handle T comprising a bottom1, a floor 2 and a top 3.

Two lateral sides 4 extend from the bottom 1, between the floor 2 andthe top 3

An access side 5 with a zip fastener is opposite the bottom 1 and edgesthe lateral sides 4, the floor 2 and the top 3.

The floor 2 is a floor that folds between an arrangement with a compactvolume for storing the luggage represented in FIG. 1 and an arrangementwith a large volume represented in FIG. 2.

The floor 2 comprises two parts: a rigid front part 2 a and a rigid rearpart 2 b articulated by a hinge 2 c.

The hinge 2 c may be made by stitching textile enclosures made integralwith the rigid parts 2 a and 2 b of the floor 2, so that the front partcan rotate towards the inside of the product.

The rigid parts 2 a and 2 b of the floor 2 are folded substantially atright angles in the arrangement with a compact storage volume, to reducethe thickness of the floor 2.

The rigid parts 2 a and 2 b of the floor 2 each have two wheels R placedlaterally in the vicinity of the lateral sides 4.

The front part 2 a of the floor 2 is thus a rigid part, which carriestwo casings 6 that support the wheels R.

The rear part 2 b of the floor 2 is also a rigid part, which carries twoother casings 6 that support the wheels R.

The top 3 of the luggage with wheels R and a telescopic handle T isgenerally made of a polypropylene sheet with a C-shaped arrangement thatextends the bottom 1 and makes up a return. The top 3 has an openingthat makes it possible to mount the telescopic handle T.

The invention also extends to an unrepresented alternative of luggagewith a top 3 that can be folded between an arrangement with a compactvolume for storing the luggage represented in FIG. 1 and an arrangementwith a large volume represented in FIG. 2. The top 3 of thisunrepresented alternative luggage with a folding structure according tothe invention may to that end comprise a front part and a rear part thatcan be folded substantially at right angles in the arrangement with thecompact volume for storage. The front and rear parts of the top 3 may becomplementary near the lateral sides 4, to make up a substantially rigidtop 3.

The lateral sides 4 extend from the bottom 1, between the floor 2 andthe top 3, and are associated with stiffening panels 4 a suitable forturning towards the bottom of the luggage.

Those rigid pivoting panels 4 a are mounted inside the structure of theluggage with a folding structure, to make up stiffening frames in thearrangement with a large volume represented in FIG. 2.

The stiffening panels 4 a are fixed to the rear or bottom 1 of theluggage with a folding structure and are not fixed on their other sides,in order to be able to rotate so as to be folded inside the structure ofthe luggage with a folding structure.

These stiffening panels 4 a thus turn inside the structure of theluggage with a folding structure, in the arrangement with a compactvolume for storing the luggage represented in FIG. 1.

The pair of rigid turning panels 4 a are thus folded on top of eachother in the arrangement with the compact volume for storing the luggage1 represented in FIG. 1.

The stiffening panels 4 a are made by means of a textile enclosure andare preferably edged by continuous rigid frames that hold them and keepthem from being deformed inside the luggage with a folding structure.

The invention described by reference to luggage with a folding structureand four wheels R and a telescopic handle T also extends to suitcaseswith two wheels, with or without lateral frames, and luggage with softfolding structures such as duffel bags. The stiffening panels 4 a maycomprise elements other than lateral frames, such as glass fiber rods,which may or may not be removable.

In FIG. 2, the luggage with a folding structure 1 according to theinvention is represented in its arrangement with a large usage volume.

In that arrangement with a large usage volume, the front part 2 a isco-planar with the rear part 2 b of the floor 2.

The front part 2 a and rear part 2 b are joined by the articulation 2 c.

Lateral locking means 2 d are mounted alternatively on the front part 2a or the rear part 2 b, near the casings 6 that support the wheels R.

The locations of the lateral locking means 2 d are preferably made inthe internal parts 6 a of the support casings 6 of wheels R.

The lateral locking means 2 d may be made of any rigid material, such asglass fiber, steel or rigid plastic.

The spacing between the lateral locking means 2 d of the front part 2 aand the rear part 2 b of the floor 2 avoids the concentration ofstresses in the middle of floor 2. Thus, that avoids building updiverted flexion at the middle of the floor 2 and deforming the rollingplane at the locations of the support housings 6 of the wheels R, as theforces are distributed over a greater width, corresponding to theinterior edges of the floor 2.

In the arrangement with the large usage volume, the front of eachstiffening panel 4 a is fixed and held at a front edge of the lateralside 4 by a Velcro (registered trademark) tape or press studs.

The rear of each stiffening panel 4 a is fixed and held at the rear ofeach lateral side 4 by a hinge 4 c, which may be made by stitching atextile enclosure made integral at the rear of each lateral side 4.

In the movement towards the arrangement with a large volume, eachstiffening panel 4 a is guided by the hinge 4 c made integral at therear of each lateral side 4. The rigid turning panels 4 a thus openoutward and are articulated on the rear side of the luggage, so that therigid turning panels 4 a take up positions that are substantiallyparallel in the arrangement with a large volume.

Because at least one of the two lateral sides is associated with atleast one stiffening panel that is adapted to turn towards the bottom ofthe folding luggage, the force is transmitted evenly from the top of theluggage to the bottom and rolling is improved.

Thus, thanks to the invention, the luggage with a folding structure hasa stable and rigid structure in the arrangement with a large volume: thelateral parts 4 are stabilized by rigid turning panels 4 a in thearrangement with a large volume.

In FIG. 3, a locking means for luggage with a folding structureaccording to the invention in the folded arrangement with a compactvolume for storage is represented.

The front part 2 a and rear part 2 b are joined by the articulation 2 c.

Lateral locking means 2 d are mounted in this example on the rear part 2b, near the support casings 6 of the wheels R.

The locations of the lateral locking means 2 d are made and directlyincorporated into the internal parts 6 a of the support casings 6 ofwheels R.

The lateral locking means 2 d comprise elongated elements 7 in rigidmaterial, such as glass fiber, steel or rigid plastic.

The elongated elements 7 in rigid material are mounted to rotate betweena free position that is substantially parallel to the bottom 1 and aforced position that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom 1.

In the free position substantially parallel to the bottom 1, theelongated elements 7 in rigid material do not exceed the articulationline 2 c.

If there are several elongated elements 7 in rigid material, theelongated elements 7 in rigid material may be articulated on the frontor the rear of the floor 2 of luggage with a folding structure accordingto the invention.

When the elongated elements 7 in rigid material are articulated on therear as shown, the rigid turning panels 4 a have downward-turned indentsto allow them to pass above the internal parts 6 a of the supportcasings 6 of the wheel R of the luggage with a folding structure.

When the elongated elements 7 of the rigid material are articulated atthe front of the luggage with a folding structure, near the accessopening 6, the rigid turning panels 4 a may not have backward-turnedindents.

In FIG. 4, each elongated element 7 in rigid material is locked in twohousings 8 a, 8 b, so as to thus make up a rigid co-planar holding linkfor the front part 2 a and rear part 2 b joined by the articulation 2 c.

The locations of the housings 8 a, 8 b are preferably located on theinternal parts 6 a of the support casings 6 of wheels R.

That co-planar rigid holding link thus allows the smooth rolling of theluggage with a folding structure, four wheels R and a telescopic handleT.

Each elongated element 7 in rigid material is embedded in the housings 8a, 8 b integral with the front half floor 2 a and rear half floor 2 b,so that no force is applied on the axis of rotation of the elongatedelement 7 in rigid material.

The invention also covers the unrepresented alternative in which atleast one elongated element 7 in rigid material is mounted to rotatebetween a free position that is substantially parallel to the bottom 1and a forced position that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom1 in the front half floor 2 a.

The invention also covers the unrepresented alternative comprising onlyone elongated element 7 in rigid material that is mounted to rotatebetween a free position that is substantially parallel to the bottom 1and a forced position that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom1.

The invention also covers the unrepresented alternative comprising morethan two elongated elements 7 in a rigid material mounted differently,to make up a rigid holding link that is co-planar with the front part 2a and rear part 2 b of the floor 2.

The essential feature is that the invention provides a lateral rigidlinking means between a front wheel R and a rear wheel R on the sameside. That rigid link is provided by the two rods 7 that link theinterior wheel casings 6 a and stiffen the folding floor 2. In theunfolded position, the invention makes it possible to link the frontwheel R with the corresponding rear wheel R, in order to create a rigidlink between the two wheels R and make them co-planar.

The invention simply provides for two rods or rigid links 7 which link,in the unfolded position, directly and rigidly a zone near the frontwheel R to a zone near the corresponding rear wheel R.

Thus, at least one rod 7 rotates around a fixed point located close toone of the wheels R, and can thus occupy two main positions: one foldedposition that does not link the wheel casings and is parallel to thebottom 1 of the suitcase, and an unfolded position that creates a linkwith another wheel on the other half floor and is perpendicular to thebottom 1 of the suitcase.

The invention thus makes it possible, in the unfolded position, toensure the perfect transmission of force between the front and rear ofthe luggage, and hold the front and rear wheels on the same plane, toallow perfect rolling in the four-wheel mode.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the rod system 7 is placedinside the folding suitcase, and the system for fastening, rotating andholding the rods 7 is integrated directly on the interior wheel casings6 a inside the suitcase.

A first housing 6 a for the wheel R, for example the rear housing at theback of the suitcase, bears the rod 7 mounted around an axis ofrotation.

An additional housing 8 a that catches the rod 7 in the unfoldedposition is provided to prevent the transmission of forces to the pointof fastening and the axis of rotation of the rod 7.

A second housing 6 a for the wheel R, for example the front housing ofthe suitcase, bears a housing 8 b that holds and locks the rod 7 on theother half floor in the unfolded position.

The invention also covers the unrepresented alternative in which atleast one elongated element 7 in rigid material is integrated into anexterior housing 6 b of the wheel R.

The invention also covers the unrepresented alternative in which atleast one elongated element 7 in rigid material, which is not directlyintegrated in an interior or exterior wheel casing, is mounted nearby,directly or by means of an added part, particularly in the case ofmanufacturing by injection in several pieces.

In order to implement the invention, the user starts by unfolding thefloor 2, then fastens the rods 7 to the casings 6 a. Lastly, the usermakes the rigid turning panels 4 a rotate from the inside to the outsideand the front of the luggage with a folding structure.

During that movement of rotation, the bottom of the rigid turning panels4 a could hit or be blocked by the wheel casings 6 a, on the surfaces ofhousings 8 a, 8 b, protruding from the floor 2.

If the presence of the housings 8 a, 8 b that hold the rod 7 on theinterior casings 6 a raises volume problems during manipulation, rigidturning panels 4 a that are slightly shorter than the internal height ofthe suitcase are provided.

The bottom parts of the rigid turning panels 4 a do not touch the bottomof the product and are indented so as to pass above the housings 8 a, 8b of the interior casings 6 a of the wheels R during rotation

In that case, each interior casing 6 a of a wheel R comprises a raisededge 9, which is set against the rigid frame of the turning panel 4 a.That edge 9 does not merely hold a rigid frame of a mobile turning frame4 a correctly, but it also makes up for the shorter height of the rigidframe of the turning panel 4 a and supports it at the proper height.

In order to reinforce the rigidity and stability of the luggage with afolding structure according to the invention in all the arrangementscorresponding to a selected volume, it is advantageous to provideadditional means for locking the rigid frames of the turning panels 4 afor stiffening, so as to hold the stiffening frames in position in theirarrangement for the transmission of vertical and lateral forces.

The invention described by reference to several particular embodimentsis not limited in any way to those embodiments, but covers allmodifications of shape and all alternative embodiments as part of theattached claims.

Thus, the luggage according to the invention may comprise at least onestiffening panel (4 a) that is mobile in another manner, for example atleast one stiffening panel (4 a) that is suitable for pivoting to thefront or towards the access side of the luggage.

Thus, the luggage according to the invention may comprise at least onelateral holding means (2 d) that may be articulated in another manner,for example at least one folding means such as a second floor, the axisof articulation of which is transversal to the axis of the hinge of thelateral side (2) with a folding structure that makes up a floor (2) withtwo rigid parts (2 a, 2 b) joined to each other by a hinge.

1-12. (canceled)
 13. A luggage with a folding structure that can take acompact form for storage and an expanded form of the usage volume, ofthe type with an access side and a bottom opposite said access side;wherein said bottom is edged with four lateral sides; and wherein onelateral side has a folding structure and is configured to be rigidlyheld using at least one lateral lock.
 14. The luggage according to claim13, wherein at least one of the two lateral sides is associated with atleast one stiffening panel.
 15. The luggage according to claim 14,wherein at least one stiffening panel is configured to turn towards thebottom of the luggage.
 16. The luggage according to claim 13, furthercomprising at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel mountedon the lateral side with the folding structure and configured to berigidly held using at least one lateral lock.
 17. The luggage accordingto claim 16, wherein at least one lateral lock comprises a rigidcomponent configured to join at least one front wheel and at least onerear wheel mounted on the lateral side with the folding structure andconfigured to be rigidly held using at least one lateral lock.
 18. Theluggage according to claim 17, wherein the lateral side with the foldingstructure and configured to be rigidly held using at least one laterallock makes up a folding floor with two rigid parts joined to each otherby a hinge, wherein each of the rigid parts bears at least one frontwheel and at least one rear wheel.
 19. The luggage according to claim17, wherein the lateral side that makes up the folding floor has the tworigid parts and at least one joining rod configured to stiffen thefolding floor.
 20. The luggage according to claim 19, wherein eachjoining rod joins wheel casings to create a rigid link between said atleast one front wheel and said at least one rear wheel and to keep themco-planar.
 21. The luggage according to claim 20, wherein at least onejoining rod rotates around a fixed point located close to one of thewheels, between two positions: a first folded position that does notjoin the wheels and an unfolded position that creates the link betweenwith another wheel
 22. The luggage according to claim 19, wherein eachjoining rod is mounted inside the luggage.
 23. The luggage according toclaim 22, wherein an assembly to fasten, move and hold a joining rod ismounted directly inside the luggage on an interior casing of a wheel.24. The luggage according to claim 15, wherein said at least onestiffening panel configured to turn towards the bottom of the luggage isarticulated at the bottom of the luggage.